In a statement on Tuesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) condemned the inciting and hostile chants made by armed groups affiliated with the transitional government’s Ministry of Defense during celebrations held in some Syrian areas marking the fall of the Ba’ath regime.
The SDF said that what happened “goes beyond an individual outburst” and reflects “systematic practices that revive the mentality of incitement and hatred from which Syrians have suffered for decades.” The statement stressed that the rhetoric voiced by those groups “constitutes a violation of civil peace and an attempt to revive divisive and threatening discourse.”
The statement pointed out that the use of such chants by forces under the Ministry of Defense places the authorities in Damascus before clear responsibilities; either adopting this rhetoric or admitting their inability to control it, noting that the message Syrians received confirms the persistence of the very mentality they revolted against.
The SDF, which has sacrificed thousands of fighters in the fight against terrorism, emphasized that North and East Syria will not become the target of hate speech, and that any attempt to destabilize the region will be met with a responsible and firm stance that preserves civil peace and protects the achievements of Syrians.
The SDF concluded its statement by stressing that “Syria’s future cannot be built on incitement and hysterical slogans, but on partnership, mutual recognition, and respect for the will of all components,” affirming its rejection of any attempt to drag the country back into a cycle of conflict.